A Cascadia Daily News story on Feb. 4 about a bond measure for a library project in Birch Bay contained factual errors.
The estimated total cost of the proposed library is $6.5 million. Donations and a $2 million state appropriation left a projected financing need of $4.5 million — the amount that property owners residing in the Library Capital Facility Area would fund with a required 60% supermajority in Tuesday’s special election.
The bond measure is the second time in three months library supporters have put the question of library funding to voters. A similar measure in the November general election fell 26 votes short of passing.
If approved, the bond measure would add approximately 11 cents per $1,000 assessed value to existing property taxes.
Construction could begin in 2022. The Birch Bay Vogt Community Library could open as early as 2023, according to the Whatcom County Library System.
The county library system currently serves Birch Bay with weekly bookmobile service and Wi-Fi. Community members borrow materials from the bookmobile as at any other branch.
The Whatcom County Library System purchased the proposed library site at 7968 Birch Bay Drive in 2017.
The Cascadia Daily News regrets the errors.
